ACS Journalism Scholarship
Our ACS Journalism Scholarship is offered annually to a sports media student or emerging writer and is run with the support of Holmesglen TAFE, courtesy of Simone Wearne, who is the Course Leader for Sports Degrees. See below for past Scholar’s experiences and links to all our Scholar’s published articles.
Our Journalism Scholar each year is mentored by successful Journalist and Author John Harms. John is also the editor of The Footy Almanac https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/ .
The scholarship program is coordinated by ACS Vice-President, Keiran Croker.
Our 2026 Scholar is Liam Grima. Below he tells us about himself.
“My name is Liam Grima. I am 19 years old and currently studying a Bachelor of Sports Media at Holmesglen Institute of Tafe in Melbourne.
I have a strong interest in journalism, broadcasting and content creation. My interests and hobbies are focussed on sport – I love all things cricket which includes playing for the Mulgrave Cricket Club, competing in the Eastern Cricket Association, alongside my studies in sports media,
I am also a diehard Western Bulldogs supporter in the AFL.”
Past ACS Journalism Scholar’s Experiences:
2024 scholar, Liam McCullagh:
“In 2024, I was selected as the Australian Cricket Society’s Literary Journalism Scholar, working under the mentorship of Keiran Croker and John Harms.
The scholarship provided a unique opportunity to write feature stories, personal cricket anecdotes and opinion pieces on topical issues within the game.
Through this experience, I developed stronger critical thinking skills, greater confidence and the ability to deliver in-depth analysis.
These skills have directly translated into my professional work as a journalist with the Colac Herald and Ace Radio.
It was a great experience and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking of applying.”
From our 2023 scholar, Kobe Jacobs:
“Being able to write for the Australian Cricket Society was a very enjoyable experience. Writing during a year when the Australian Men’s team had the Ashes, World Test Championship and ODI World Cup all at stake, made writing each piece much more stimulating. Getting to work under John Harms, who was a great mentor was advantageous.”
Our 2022 scholar Sam Coulson said:
“My time in the ACS has been wonderful. I have not only improved my writing ability but have been consumed by many great stories from legends of the game.”
Our inaugural scholar (2021), Donal Wilson said:
“To learn about writing has been a big step forward in my journalism career. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ACS dinners and luncheons getting the opportunity to meet former international cricketers, and fellow ACS members.
However, it’s been interviewing the players and writing their stories that I’ve enjoyed the most.“
For more information or to apply for future scholarships, contact us at info@australiancricketsociety.com.au
Past Scholars
2021 Donal Wilson
2022 Sam Coulson
2023 Kobe Jacobs
2024 Liam McCullagh
2025 Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes
2026 Liam Grima
Inaugral Scholar Donal Wilson with Ken Piesse, noted Author, Sports Journalist and former ACS President.
Our ACS Journalism Scholar Written Articles
Australian-Sri Lankan Series Review
By Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes, incoming ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). While never the most celebrated rivalry, the Australian-Sri Lankan series is one that has happened on a regular basis for the last few decades....
The summer of 2013-14 by Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes
By Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes, incoming ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). The summer of 2013-14 wasn’t the first summer where I watched cricket, but it was the one where I fell in love with the sport and this makes sense. I was eight...
Australia clinches 3-1 series victory against India
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). In one of the most watched and attended Test series of all-time, it was fitting that on the final day, the series was still in the balance. Despite starring...
A birthday present at the G
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). A late spring birthday means one thing – it’s an Australian obligation to involve cricket somehow, but one birthday where I got to grace the hallowed turf of the...
Australia vs India – Here we go
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). Twelve months ago, this summer’s Australia vs India Test series looked like a preview to the World Test Championship final, however the two world beating teams full of world class...
Oliver Peake ACS Male Young Cricketer of the Year
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). A freakish batsman who can hit the ball to all parts of the ground, Oliver Peake is a super talented 18-year-old who can bat anywhere in the top 6 and comes from great cricketing...
Sara Kennedy ACS Young Female Cricketer of the Year
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). From playing in the Women’s Big Bash League at sixteen years-of-age to being the first girl picked in Ballarat Clarendon College’s First XI team, Australian Cricket Society’s young...
Pavilion 2025 out soon!
edited by Ken Piesse In the 2025 edition we pay tribute to the greatest women cricketers of the first 90 years in an extended feature which honours so many wonderful players from Peggy Antonio in the ‘30s, Betty Wilson in the ‘50s right through to the fierce fast...
Can Test Cricket and T20 Co-exist? T20 World Cup Review.
By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). One month since the West Indies and United States hosted the ICC T20 World Cup, and cricket’s future is as murky as ever. One thing is clear though, T20 cricket is imperative to...
USA take-over
By Liam McCullagh, incoming ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms). The year is 2048 and chants of ‘USA’ bellow around the MCG, but this time it isn’t for a lanky-yankee playing for Collingwood, it’s for the United States of America’s...